Get a mineral dealer licence (gold, gemstones and other minerals)
State Department for Mining · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Register on the Mining Cadastre Portal and apply online on Form DTL 1, then pay KSh 5,000 to apply plus an annual fee for your mineral category (for example KSh 20,000 for precious stones). The Cabinet Secretary decides within 30 days of a complete application.
- Fee
- KSh 5,000Application fee (trading licence)KSh 20,000Annual licence fee: precious stonesKSh 20,000Annual licence fee: semi-precious stonesKSh 50,000Annual licence fee: industrial and construction mineralsKSh 200,000Annual licence fee: precious metals (such as gold)KSh 500,000Annual licence fee: base and rare metals
- How long
- Within 30 days of a complete application
- Where
- Online on the Mining Cadastre Portal. Office: State Department for Mining, Works Building, 3rd Floor, Ngong Road, Nairobi
What you need
- For a company: certificate of registration and a current CR12
- A signed, certified bank statement or letter from a bank showing the funds you have
- A description of your knowledge or experience in the mineral trade
Steps
- Register for an account on the Mining Cadastre Portal (portal.miningcadastre.go.ke).
- Apply online on Form DTL 1 for each mineral category you want to trade, upload your documents and pay the fees.
- The Director of Mines checks your application is complete and sends a recommendation. The Cabinet Secretary approves or rejects it.
Watch out
- You need a separate licence for each mineral category, for example gemstones and precious metals.
- A cheaper mineral dealing permit only covers trade inside Kenya. It does not allow exports.
- A dealing licence is valid for one calendar year, so you renew it every year.
Who can apply
- Anyone, person or company, who wants to buy, sell or do business in minerals.
Official sources (4)
- The Mining (Dealings in Minerals) Regulations, 2017 (L.N. 88 of 2017) new.kenyalaw.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- FAQs mining.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Licensing mining.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Kenya Mining Cadastre Portal portal.miningcadastre.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026